"Officials, Zhang Xiang asks for an audience."
In Yanhe hall, Zhao Ji was sitting in front of the desk reading memorials, but at this time, a young waiter came in.
"Xuan."
Zhao Ji did not lift his head and continued to read carefully. The Chamberlain respectfully withdrew, and within a moment he led a man back, which was the current Prime Minister Zhang dun.
"Old minister, see the officials."
"Don''t be polite, Zhang Yan, give Zhang xiangkan a seat." Chu Feng put down the memorial in his hand and ordered a way.
"Thank you for your grace."
Zhang Dun saluted again until the Chamberlain Zhang Yan took the seat and sat down with his head straight.
"Zhang Xiang was appointed as the mausoleum envoy to be responsible for the burial of the imperial brother. I don''t know what''s going on?"
"The old minister didn''t dare to neglect. He was busy for several days and everything went well."
"That''s good." Zhao Ji nodded and paused. Then he asked,
"Zhang Xiang is here, but what''s the matter?"
"The official family knows everything, and the old minister does have an important announcement." Zhang Dun stood up again and said solemnly,
"The minister is old, and he is more and more reluctant to deal with political affairs. I hope the officials will agree. After the burial of the former Emperor is completed, the old minister will be allowed to return to his hometown for the rest of his life."
"Return home?" Zhao Ji asked with a calm look,
"But what''s wrong with me that makes Zhang Xiang unwilling to leave office?"
"I dare not. In fact, I am old and frail. I dare not eat vegetarian food."
Zhang Dun looked firm and determined.
Zhao Ji was silent and glanced at each other briefly. He knew very well that the so-called old age was just an excuse. The fundamental reason was that he had opposed his succession to the throne before.
"The state affairs are complicated. I have just ascended the throne. I still need your family''s assistance. Let''s put this matter aside for the time being."
"Officials..."
"OK." Zhao Ji''s tone was indisputable. He directly interrupted the other party, and the topic changed,
"The provincial test is coming, and there are many children in Bianjing. Is there any arrangement?"
"The Ministry of Rites has made preparations for this. Officials don''t have to worry."
Seeing the attitude of the officials, Zhang Dun immediately understood that he was afraid that what he mentioned would not be possible.
However, his heart was involuntarily full of doubts. The officials in front of him were not quite the same as he imagined, or very different.
To put it bluntly, it always gave him an unfathomable feeling. In particular, his words and deeds are calm and steady, and his happiness and anger are not in color. Compared with the former king Duan, it seems like a different person.
Anyway, it was a good thing, and he was relieved. Unfortunately, some of his words and deeds are too extreme to recover.
"It was quiet again in the hall since I ascended the throne. However, looking at each other''s disappearing back, Zhao Ji thought secretly.
The idea of letting Zhang Dun talk was extinguished as soon as he was born.
During the Shenzong period in the past, Wang Anshi was used to preside over the reform and vigorously promote the new deal. However, although his idea was good, he ignored the essence of the great song dynasty. This was a world dominated by literati and scholars, and the emperor was also a part of it and belonged to vested interests.
The measures of the new deal are to cut off the flesh of literati and gentry and benefit the world. This directly violates the fundamental interests of the other party. Therefore, it is almost impossible to implement it smoothly.
Sure enough, the reform ended without a hitch.
However, this is an introduction. After that, the whole Song Dynasty began to split from top to bottom, including the royal family, and finally divided into two forces. One is the reformers who support the new deal, the new party, and the other is the conservatives who oppose the new deal, the old party.
From the Shenzong Dynasty to the zhe Zong Dynasty, there was a constant battle between the two forces, which never stopped for a moment.
Of course, whether the new party or the old party, the reform is just a high sounding excuse. There is no difference in essence. It is nothing more than a dispute over interests.
"Zhang Dun, the leader of the new party, is still the most suitable to stay at present. Otherwise, who will be the shield for the next thing? As for the future, it doesn''t matter whether the new party or the old party."
He whispered to himself, as if he thought of something, and a smile could not help but appear in his eyes.
"The official family, Baoci palace sent someone to send a message. The Empress Dowager asked you to go there and said it was important to discuss." but at this time, the Chamberlain Zhang Yan came in and interrupted his meditation in an instant.
"Do you know what it is?"
"I heard that the Empress Dowager mentioned Yaohua palace when she got up early today."
Zhang Yanmei lowered his eyes and said nothing more after a slight click.
"I see."
Zhao Ji could not help but frown. There lived the former empress Meng, his sister-in-law. Meng was established to the empress dowager, belonging to the old party. At this time, he was mentioned, I''m afraid he had a plan to restore it.
However, the emperor''s sister-in-law is virtuous, virtuous and good-looking. She can be regarded as a competent queen. It''s nothing to reset her, just to support her.
In contrast, he is more concerned about another Liu, who is also his royal sister-in-law. That is really a beautiful appearance and a heart like snakes and scorpions. It is by no means a fuel-efficient lamp.
"I hope you are more calm, otherwise..."
The cold light flashed in his eyes, then he got up and walked outside the hall.
……
At this time, Chu Feng was talking with Liu hunkang in the Chu mansion. As for his disciples, they were all arranged in the side room and had a rest for the time being.
"Chu is a little puzzled. Those disciples of brother Dao look strange. They don''t seem to be Taoists, but have cultivated the internal Qi in the world. Why?"
"I knew that the friendship association had this question. Yes, they were indeed martial monks, and they were carefully selected and deliberately trained in the great song dynasty." Liu hunkang didn''t deny it, but nodded back.
"Would you like to hear it in detail?"
Hearing this, Chu Feng was a little curious. Obviously, such an act must have a certain purpose.
"This matter also has something to do with my mission to Bianjing this time. In fact, even if Taoist friends don''t ask, I have to tell you the truth." after a pause, Liu hunkang continued,
"Have you ever been to a dense forest in the northwest corner of the imperial city?"
"Eh!" Chu Feng was stunned. Unexpectedly, the other party mentioned it,
"The Taoist brother said, but the strange array there?"
"Sure enough, Taoist friends have already seen it." Liu hunkang nodded and then said,
"That array is called the great array of ghosts eroding Yang. It is a vicious evil array, which has a strong effect on the Dragon veins of the great song dynasty. This array was discovered as early as the reign of the emperor Yingzong, but it was established at an unknown time. The accumulated dead Qi and resentment are endless, and integrate with the Royal Dragon veins. It wants to get rid of the difficulties."
"Invade the dragon vein." Chu Feng was stunned for a moment, and then nodded suddenly. It''s next to the imperial city. It''s not surprising that it plays such a role,
"So, Yingzong''s early death is also related to this array?"
"That''s true," Liu hunkang nodded, confirmed the other party''s guess, and added,
"It''s not just the Yingzong, but the royal family surnamed Zhao has always been weak and their offspring are not prosperous. Moreover, with the passage of time, its integration with the dragon vein will become more and more profound. At that time, the whole Bianjing city will be affected."
Chu Feng was silent. Suddenly, there was a flash of light in his mind. He thought for a moment that the dense forest was the location. Isn''t it the "reclamation mountain" in the future?
It is said that when Zhao Jichu ascended the throne, his descendants were not prosperous. When he was distressed, a Taoist priest suggested that he could raise the throne of the Imperial City, so there would be more sons. Then he ordered the Taoist priest to choose a suitable position to cultivate soil and build a post, which was soon fulfilled.
Originally, it was just a small matter. As a result, after the world was peaceful, Zhao Ji expanded more and more. Encouraged by a group of crafty and cunning men, he began to build large-scale buildings, which wasted people and money, so that it attracted flames of war and toppled the country.
"It turned out that all this was so. It was a good thing, but it was ruined."
Thinking of Zhao Ji''s own death, Chu Feng couldn''t help sneering in his heart and congratulated himself more and more for his choice. At the very least, in this world, such a tragedy will not happen again.
"The array was weird, and I don''t know how long it was arranged. It was almost impossible to break it. Therefore, Taoist friends of all factions had to give up temporarily and push it together after returning to the mountain. It didn''t come to fruition until a few years ago." after a pause, Liu hunkang continued,
"We combined some remnants of ancient arrays and finally developed a ''yin-yang dragon cultivation array''. This array has the ability of Yin-Yang rotation, which can gradually convert the accumulated extreme Yin Qi into Yang, greatly revitalize the dragon vein and benefit future generations."
"It should be more than that." Chu Feng suddenly frowned. He had been there. Naturally, he knew that the strangeness of the array, especially the dead resentment, was not easy to eliminate.
"What Taoist friends said is true. That array is too powerful. Therefore, the yin-yang dragon cultivation array can only seal it without eradicating it. In addition, it needs the help of the national dragon Qi."
"So?" Chu Feng was stunned and asked again,
"Taoist brother can have an array diagram on him. Chu wants to see it."
"You can''t help it."
Liu hunkang not only didn''t refuse, but was very happy. The other party''s cultivation level was higher than him. He must have extensive knowledge and may find some omissions.
Moreover, this time, there is some uncertainty about sealing the evil array. Naturally, I hope the other party can help, which can also increase the probability of success.
With that, he reached into his arms, took out a yellow scroll, put it down and slowly extended it.
"This is the Yin Yang dragon cultivation array. In addition to the array diagram, there are several array plates, all of which are carried by the disciples."
"North water, South fire, East thunder, Xize, the sun of heaven and earth, the Yin of mountain wind, such Yin and Yang rotate..." Chu Feng looked at the array and looked carefully. However, he suddenly stopped at some specially marked positions on the array,
"What are these locations?"
Hearing the question, Liu hunkang didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he looked lonely. A long time ago,
"It''s not difficult to arrange the array, but to activate it. It requires some sacrifice, even the Dragon Qi of national fortune, to run smoothly. Therefore, those disciples... They..."
"Blood sacrifice?" Chu Feng looked suddenly cold and asked in a deep voice.
With his insight, he reacted almost instantly and understood everything. Those disciples are obviously used for blood sacrifice when the array is activated.
"I''m sorry, Taoist friend. It''s also a last resort. In addition, we can''t think of a better way." Liu hunkang naturally noticed the change of the other party''s attitude and hurried to explain.
It was Mao Shan''s own disciples who sacrificed in order to save the people in Bianjing. In this case, Chu Feng, as an outsider, can''t say anything.
However, this method is somewhat cruel and closer to the devil''s way. Moreover, somehow, when he looked at the array again, he had a strange feeling in his heart. It seemed that something was wrong.
"As Taoist brother said just now, in addition to 18 disciples being sacrificed with blood, even the Dragon Qi of national fortune will be consumed?"
"The blood sacrifice is just an introduction. Those disciples are all extremely yin or extremely Yang, which is the most appropriate. The Dragon Qi is just to Yang, which is necessary to activate the array. When the array is running, they will be self-sufficient and do not need to consume any more."
"Are you sure that the array will not be consumed after operation?"
"This......" Liu hunkang was suddenly stunned and then said,
"The proponent of Yin Yang dragon cultivation array is the Taoist friend of tianlongzi. Moreover, it is also a complete array developed under his auspices and with our assistance. I think he should have thought of such a situation long ago."
"Tianlongzi?" Chu Feng frowned. He didn''t know that this was the Gaodao?
"The Taoist friend of tianlongzi is a master of scattered cultivation and is an elder in the cultivation world. He is not only a profound cultivation, but also a famous array master and is very famous in the cultivation world." Liu hunkang noticed his doubts and explained in time.
At the same time, I was also curious. I heard Shi Tai once say that the other party was just a child. By chance, he was accepted as a disciple by a Taoist expert. Could it be that he only preached Taoism, but never told this?
However, in a short period of more than two months, it can be trained into a strong person. By such means, I''m afraid only three such beings have such ability?
San Zun, is it still alive?
"The core of the evil array is not on the surface, but in the depths of the earth. There is not only strong evil resentment in it, but also endless grievances. Once the array is activated, it will fight back frantically. During this period, if you can''t control it, even if you miss a small part, it will do great damage to the ordinary people living around." put your mind away, Liu hunkang reminded again.
"Is it a problem to suppress dead gas and resentment?" Chu Feng nodded, and his heart moved. He faintly had an idea, but he didn''t say it, and turned to his way,
"In this case, not only us, but also the cooperation of the imperial court."
"The imperial court is only one of them. When time is fixed, some Taoist friends from other factions, even Shi Daoyou, will come to help. The last time the other party came to Bianjing, it was also to investigate the situation there." Liu hunkang explained.
"Shi Tai." Chu Feng nodded and turned to say,
"What about Chu, but what do you need to do?"
"Since we need the help of Taoist friends, more people and more strength, not to mention the cultivation level of Taoist friends is far beyond us. In this way, we can ensure nothing wrong."